210 Trade | EpiCentre

[dubone]

I'm pretty sure the only way to pay less than $13 is to sit in the neck-craning section or else cheat and buy the cheaper tickets and move up anyway.  They were onto us cheaters so at off times they quit offering the cheaper option.  

[Matthew.Brendan]

lol no kidding! Wife and I decided to go check out a movie there. We get the hairy eyeball from the bouncer whom we assure that we are there "just to watch a movie"

I can't remember if the show time was sold out or what but the place was packed and we didn't get tickets but decided to at least check the place out so we go upstairs and everyone is in club-wear and there's a nearly naked girl dancing in the window.

lol? Granted this had to have been a Friday or Saturday night. I'm sure Monday night would be different.

[nonillogical]

It is different on weekdays. I've been to movies there on Tuesday nights or in the afternoon and it was very laid back, but of course you still get to take advantage of the bar. Usually though I tended to wind up going in at 7:00 or so on a Friday or Saturday, perfectly quiet and no bouncer, to walk out after the movie to that full on club scene. I always thought that was kind of fun considering it's not my scene at all, but interesting to experience for about 10 minutes as you leave. 

[dubone]

My favorite visit to Mez was during CIAA a few years ago.  It was private party hosted by DJ Jazzy Jeff.   We were waiting in line until everyone guessed because our of the obvious differences in complexion and dress that we were only there to watch a movie.  

[Urbanity]

Re: The revamped movie theater I do hope that they actually space out all the rows and place sort of tables in front of all of them - the current armrest tables are not big enough for anything more than a snack and drink.

[Guest]

Here is the Replacement for Mez

http://www.studiomoviegrill.com/

 

Actually think its a step in the right direction. Seems like it will be the Family Friendly option that Epicentre desperately needs to make it less "clubby" and cater to everyone.

[nonillogical]

Sounds fine, somewhat generic though. I just wanted to make sure they keep the bar if they get rid of the club atmosphere. If that is the intent, all they'd have to do is not blast club music at night and voila, no more club scene. I am betting that they don't end trying TOO hard to undo whats already been established with the interior.

[Temeteron]

Sounds fine, somewhat generic though. I just wanted to make sure they keep the bar if they get rid of the club atmosphere. If that is the intent, all they'd have to do is not blast club music at night and voila, no more club scene. I am betting that they don't end trying TOO hard to undo whats already been established with the interior.

 

I think this will hurt Kazba a lot however if they get rid of the 'clubby' scene of former Mez.....and Kazba is one of my favorite places in CLT

[navigator319]

 

Studio Movie Grill replacing Mez, theater at EpiCentre

 

Studio Movie Grill is taking over the Mez and EpiCentre Theaters space uptown, and plans to open a 30,000-square foot restaurant and movie theater in late February.

 

 

 

Moderators Note: Removed pasted text from Observer article.

Edited January 28, 2013 by Spartan
Per UrbanPlanet rules, do not copy and paste entire articles onto the forum. Thanks.

[DEnd]

Studio Movie Grill is a weird name...  kinda like naming a dog bar Kennel K-9 Bar, or a steakhouse house slaughtered cow. The words are either jumbled or missing a conjunction or preposition or something...

[RVA2CLT]

SMG is a chain, I caught a couple movies there while in Dallas. You get a table, a full menu and a server in theater.. oh and alcohol... s'alright experience.

[dubone]

Never thought I'd reminisce for Ghazi's classiness.  

 

"Studio Movie Grill" ayfkm!?  

 

Pretty much, I read the codewords as meaning it will be a tacky Texan movie house chain with fried Sysco bar food.  Let's hope their movie decisions are not in this spirit of trying to make Epicenter "family friendly" with a LifeWay next door.   

 

[ah59396]

^Brewery Bar Dancing

[RVA2CLT]

^^Hahaha, it's not as bad as all that. Here's some pictures of the interior to give you an idea of what to expect.

Although most are stand alone, so I can't the exterior facade being very similar to the above.

Maybe something more like below.
 

 

 

 

and some examples of the interior.

 

 

and the ladies like it

 

Here's a link to the Menu (Georgia since it's the closest in prox)

 

Maybe ours will be a little more Charlotte/Carolina geared, and have local craft beers and BBQ.

 

Like I said, s'alright experience.

Edited January 25, 2013 by RVA2CLT

[ah59396]

Does the one on the right ^ come with the movie??

[nonillogical]

Looks fine, but I still think the current setup looks a little better so I hope the don't go too far out of their way to strip it down. They could lose the silly smoke graphics that are currently on many of the walls though. 

[tozmervo]

So basically it's a corporate chain version of Alamo Drafthouse. That seems more than appropriate for the Epicenter.

[DEnd]

Does the one on the right ^ come with the movie??

 

Meh, I'm not picky... I'll take all of em.

 

Seriously though the name doesn't matter all that much.  When people go to a movie there they are going to say they saw it at the epicenter.

 

That said if they sell craft beers they should create a tag line Studio Movie Grill. Weird name, amazing/great/awesome/etc... movie food beer.

Edited January 25, 2013 by DEnd

[RVA2CLT]

It fits the venue of Epicenter.

Personally I would loved to have seen an Angelika Film Center here.
You would have a the creme' of of the big box movies, but more important a local venue to screen independent, international, film festival and even local/regional/student films along with, less importantly, alcohol and cafe' type food.

However, I do not see the current Epicenter clientele/regulars as being as.. how can I say this without sounding douchey...   well.. not being as culturally involved and interested to support and fully utilize such a Cinema hous.

It's a shame though.. as the Angelika in Dallas is at a mixed use TOD called Mockingbird Station and is as close to the Epicenter/ CTC Station as it gets.

 

 

Arial view of the entire station and TOD development.

Even though this is TOD, it totally feels more more like the Metropolitan development when you're there

Edited January 25, 2013 by RVA2CLT

[DEnd]

I like the development, but I'm not sure Charlotte could support two art house type theaters. But I'm fairly ignorant on the movie market, Charlotte might be able to fit another one in. 

[Miesian Corners]

I love the Manor, but the theaters are pretty dumpy.  The Park Terrace is sometimes used for art/indie films, but not on a regular basis.  Uptown makes sense for these films due to the adult nature of most art/indie fare.  Add the fact you can have a drink, and I would think it'd be a win.

[kermit]

^ I agree, the art house crowd in Charlotte is _very_ underserved. There is plenty of room for an upscale place that serves drinks to compete with the Manor.

[Urbanity]

I agree that the art film market is completely undeserved in Charlotte.   I actually would love to see two more such film houses in Charlotte - one (envisioned in my mind)  in Downtown around new developments between First Ward Park and the NC Dance Theater studios on North Tryon, and another in NoDa.

 

BTW - These type of thearters need not be large,.  One of my favorites in NY was the Quad Cinema in NYC that was the base of a narrow six story building on 13th street.  Granted the theaters were tiny and the lobby was pretty nonexistent  but they had a continuous stream on first run independent, art films often balanced with 1 or 2 lower key (or near the end of their run) major releases with a continuous crowd of film lovers. 

 

Edited January 26, 2013 by Urbanity

[michaelef]

SMG opened today. It anyone goes let us know how it is! Hopefully they didn't change it too much

[Scoopbth]

SMG opened today. It anyone goes let us know how it is! Hopefully they didn't change it too much

Going tonight.  Just bought tickets online, looks like they changed the layout of the theatre based upon the online seating chart (assuming it is correct).